Trail builder, bulldozer, and the like



c. LE BLEU 2,184,688

TRAIL BUILDER, BULLDOZER, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Dec. 26, 1939. y 0. LE BLEU 8 TRAIL BUILDER, BULLDOZER, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,184,688 man. BUiLpER, nun noz'mt, AND THE Charles Le Bleu. Los Angeles, Calif. I Application February 29, 1936, Serial No. 66,348

15 Claims.

cludes an earth handling element disposed forwardly of the tractor. Such devices are commonly termed trail =builders, bulldozers, snow plows and the like.

: A tractor of conventional design used exten- 'sively to operate .the classof devices to which this invention relates comprises a tractor frame and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides of the frame extend- 1 ing parallel therewith and pivoted behind their.

front ends on the tractor frame by means which IZshall term the dead axle which constitutes a hrizontal axis about which the track laying units may swing independently in a vertical 20 plane, and therefore, on uneven surfaces do not Y maintaina-true parallel relationship.

an earth moving device of the class referred to includes a cross member transversely disposed forwardly of the tractor and is provided with a 25 pusher arm adjacent ach of its opposite ends,

said pusher arms extending rearwardly along side the tract frames and swingably connected at their-rear ends thereto.

, Now, one of the objects of this invention is the 30 provision, incombination with a tractor having track:- frames journaled thereon for vertical swinging movement and a rigid implement frame including a cross member transversely disposed forwardly of the tractor and pusher arms secured 35 thereto and extending rearwardlyalong side the track frame and mounted at their rear endsthereon for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, of control means connected to g the track frames and to the implement frame to 40 permit free swinging movement of the track frames and support the forward end ofthe implement frame substantially parallel with said horizontal axis, said control means being operable to swing said implement frame to adjust the 45 forward end thereof relative to the ground.

Another object of this invention is the provision in a device of the character named, of. cable control mechanism therefor mounted on the track frames of a tractor and adapted to permit 50 free swing movement of the track framesand whereby the weight of the forward'end of the device will be supported on both track frames regardless of therelative position thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provi sion, in a device of the character named, in combination with a tractor of conventional design,

a rigid implement frame journaled. at its rear end on the track frames of the tractor for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a control means therefor including a swing cable 5 supported on the track frames and engaging the implement frame to automatically shift on the implement frame to permit free swinging movement of the track frames and support the forward end of the implement frame parallel to 'said horizontal axis, and whereby the weight of the implement frame is substantially equally disposed on the track frames regardless of the relative positions thereof in a vertical plane.

Another object of this invention is the provision of cable control means for devices of the character named Wherebya minimum of strains is applied to the body of the tractor through the control means:

Another and further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a detailed reading of the specifications in connection with the attached drawings wherein I have illustrated and described the present preferred embodiment of my invention, butit is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination, corelation, and construction of parts, members, andfeatures, as do not constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention. (Usually termed a, bulldozer.)

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on a line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of my invention. (Usually termed trail builder.)

Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure 4. 40

Figure 6 is a section of the implement frame taken on a line 66. of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a section taken on a line .1--|, see

- Figure 4.

Reference will now be made to the accompany- .45

ing drawings for a'more detailed description of my invention.

The reference character T designates a tractor of conventional design provided at its opposite sides with track laying units Ill journaled for vertical swinging movement on dead axle I2 carried by the body II.

The earth moving device comprises a pair of horizontally extending trunnions l3, l3 secured to track frames l0. Journaled on trunnions I3,

l3 for vertical swinging movement are pusher arms I4, I 4 extending forwardly therefrom and carrying at their forward ends a cross member- I 5 provided with a scraper blade l6. Thus pusher frames l4, 4 and cross member -|5 constitute a rigid structure. It is to be understood that the term rigid structure in the description of the pusher arms and the cross member contemplates that the cross member 5 with its blade l6 will always be maintained at right angles relative to the longitudinal plane of the pusher frames |4 regardless of the position of the pusher frames in the arch within which they move, whether the blade is rigid with relation to the pusher frames or mounted for swinging movement in the plane of the pusher frame unit. Cross member |5 includes a curved plate H to the lower edge of which a scraper blade I6 is secured, thus the device is adapted to dig and remove earth as it is advancedacross the ground by tractor T.

Secured to each of the track frames I6 is a second pair of horizontally projecting trunnions l8, l8. Spaced forwardly from trunnions 8, I8 is a third pair of trunnions |9, i9. 20, 20 are fabricated cantilever brackets journaled at their rear ends on trunnions l8, l8 and pivotally supportedon vertical links 2|, 2| pivotally supported ontrunnions l9, I9. Links 2|, 2| extend downwardly from trunnions IS, IS and serve as rub plates as between pusher arms l4, l4 and track frames III, II].

The track laying units Ill-are constructed with a telescoping frame so that the wheel can be taken up and so that the frame I0 is contractable to facilitate the removal of rocks and roots when caught between the wheels and the tread. This in turn provides that pivots l3 and f9 vary in their space relationship.

The mechanism for controlling the operative andinoperative positions of the device includes a hydraulic jack .22 of conventional design secured to cross member I5. The hydraulic jack includes the usualpiston and piston rod. The outer end of the piston rod 23 carries a sheave 24. Journaled on the cross piece I5, as better shown in Figure v3, is a plurality of sheaves 21, 28, 29, 30, and 3|. Pivotally secured to the forward end of one of the fabricated cantilevers 20 at 26 is a cable 25 extending thence downwardly to and about sheave 21, thence upwardly and about sheave 28 thence about sheave 24 carried by piston rod 23 thence about sheaves 29, 36, and 3| and thence upwardly to a pivotal connection with the forward end of the other of the cantilevers 26 as shown at 32.

It is perhaps better noted at this time that an end of cable 25 is connected one to each of cantilevers 26 carried by track frames l0, l0, and cable 25 is disposed on the cross member I5 in a manner to permit same to .shift automatically thereby permitting free swinging movement of track frames l0, and supporting the cross member l5 in a position parallel to the horizontal axis of trunnions l3, l3, and thus the weight of the forward end of the rigid implement frame is equally distributed as between the track frames l6, l6.

33 is a fluid pump of conventional design for supplying fluid under pressure via conduit 34 to a' control valve 35 of conventional-design. The valve 35 being in the adiusted position shown, fluid will flow therefrom via conduit 36 to a reserve tank 31. It will be readily understood however,-that control valve 35 may be operated to direct fluid under pressure to a selected end of the hydraulic jack 22 and register to return fluid from the other end thereof to the reserve tank 31, said hydraulic jack and said control valve being connected by conduits 38 and 39, and since the operation of hydraulic jack 22 decreases or increases the effective length of cable 25 it follows that operation of hydraulic jack 22 will raise or lower the forward end of my earth moving device and thus control its operative and inoperative positions.

The foregoing description is directed to Figures 1, 2, and 3 wherein I have exemplified my invention as applied to what is usually termed a bulldozer.

Reference is made now to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 I wherein I exemplify a modified embodiment of my invention.

A pair of horizontally extending trunnions 40, 40 are secured one to each of track frames l0, l6. Journaled at their rear ends on trunnions 40, 46 for vertical swinging movement thereon is a pair of pusher arms 4|, 4| extending thence forwardly to rigid connection at their forward ends with a transversely disposed cross beam 42 thus constituting a rigid U frame. It is to be under stood that the term rigid connection with relation to the U frame and the cross beam 42 with its tiltable head piece 44 contemplates that the cross beam carrying the head piece 44 will always be maintained at right angles relative to the longitudinal plane of the U frame regardless of the position of the U frame in the arch within which it moves, whether the tiltable head-piece is rigid with relation to the U frame or mounted for swinging movement in the plane of the U frame unit. The forward end of the U frame is provided with an opening therein for receiving a trunnion 43 carrying a tiltable head piece 44 for tilting movement in a vertical plane. Referring to Figure 7 it will be noted that the U frame is provided with a plurality of threaded openings 45. As shown in Figure 7, the tiltable head piece 44 is secured at each end thereof by means of cap screws 46, 46 to the forward end of the U frame, thus securing the head piece 44 against tilting movement on trunnion 43. It is readily seen, however, that cap screws 46, 46 may be removed and the head p'iec-e'44 may be tilted to register the openings therein with certain otherof the threaded openings and then secured in the tilted position by means of cap screws 46.

A scraper 41 provided with a pair of lugs 48 is swingably mounted by means of a pin 49 on head piece 44. v

Frame extension members 50, 56 are secured at their rear ends at 5|, 5| to the U frame and an secured at their forward ends at 52, 52 to provided with lugs 54, the use of which is illustrated in the broken line position at 56.

Secured to each of the track frames I0 is a horizontally projecting trunnion 51, 51. Also secured to each of the track frames HI, ID is a trunnion 58, 58. Fabricated cantilever brackets 59, 59 are journaled at their rear ends on trunnions 51, 51, and pivotally supported on trunnions 58, 58 by vertical links 60.

One of the cantilever brackets 59 is provided with a short shaft 6| having journaled thereon a plurality of sheaves 62.

Cross member 42 is provided with sheaves 63 and 64 as best shown in Figure 6.

A cable 65 is connected as shown at 66to the forward end of a cantilever bracket 59 and extends thence downwardly to and about a sheave 63, thence horizontally to and upwardly about a sheave 64, thence on upwardly and over a sheave 61 journaled on the forward end, as at 68, of the other of said cantilever brackets 59. The rear end of cable 65 is provided with a yoke 69 carrying a'pin 10 having journaled thereon a plurality of sheaves II. A cable 12 is anchored at one of its ends by any suitable conventional means, such as at 13, and passes thence back and forth about sheaves 62 and II and extends thence rearwardly to a winding drum of conventional design not shown. Obviously, the winding drum, not shown, may be operated to wind up or release cable 12 and thus decrease or increase the effective length of swing cable 65 for swinging the U frame in a vertical plane about its horizontal connections with track frames l0, l0. Note also tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for relative swinging movement, an earth moving device mounted on the tractor for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a support mounted on each of said track laying units so that each will have a movement independent of the other in the plane in which said track laying units move as they swing about their pivotal mounting, and suspension means for the free end of said earth moving device continuous from one of said supports to the other of said supports and connected to said earthmoving device, said suspension means including flexible means arranged to shift transversely of the line of travel in response to the relative swinging movement of said track laying units to dispose the weight of the free end of said earth moving device substantially equally on said track laying units in any position of each track laying unit about its pivotal mounting.

-2. A material handling machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for relative swinging movement, an earth moving device mounted on. the tractor for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a support mounted on each of said track laying units so that each will have a movement lnde-. pendent of the other in the plane in which said track laying units move as they swing about their pivotal mounting, and suspension means for the free end of said earth moving device continuous from one of said supports to the other of said supports and connected to said earth moving device, said suspension means including flexible means arranged to shift transversely of the line of travel in response to the relative swinging movement of said track laying units to suspend the free end of said earth moving device parallel to the said horizontal axis and dispose the weight thereof substantially equally on said track laying units in any position of each of them about-their pivotal mounting, and means applied to said flexible means for decreasing and increasing the effective length thereof to tilt said earth moving device about said horizontal axis to control the elevation of the free end of the earth moving device.

v 3. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent swinging movement, an earth moving device mounted on the tractor for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a support mounted on each of said track laying units so that each will move independent of the other as said track laying units swing about their pivotal mounting, sheave means carried by said earth moving device, flexible means passing about said sheave means, and means mounting said flexible means on said supports, said flexible means being arranged to automatically shift in response to the independent swing- .ing movement of said track laying units to dispose the weight of the free end-of said earth moving device substantially equally on said track laying units in any position of each track laying unit about its pivotal mounting, and means mounted on said earth moving device and applied to said flexible means for swinging the free end of said earth moving device about said horizontal axis.

4. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent vertical swinging movement, a pusher frame carrying a scraper at its forward end, means mounting the rear end of the pusher frame on the track laying units for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a pair of brackets mounted one on each of the track laying units, a flexible member disposed in engagement with the pusher ends to the body for independent vertical swinging movement, a pair of pusher arms disposed one on each side of the tractor and journaled behind their front ends one on each of the track laying units for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a rigid scraper support to which the pusher arms are secured at their forward ends, a pair of brackets mounted one on each of the track laying units, a pair of sheaves disposed one adjacent the forward end of each of the track laying units and mounted on the scraper support, a cable passing about said pair of sheaves and mounted at its ends each to one of the brackets to automatically shift in response to relative swinging movement of the track laying units to permit free swinging movement thereof, suspend the rigid scraper support parallel to the said horizontal axis and dispose the weight thereof substantially equally on the track laying units, and means to manipulate the cable to swing the pusher arms to raise and lower the scraper support.

6. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent vertical swinging movement, a rigidly constructed pusher frame carrying at its forward end a material handling implement, means mounting the rear end of the pusher frame on the track laying units for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a pair of sheaves disposed one adjacent the forward end of each of the'track laying units and swivelly mounted on the pusher frame, a pair of brackets mounted one on each of the track laying units, a cable passing about said par of sheaves and connected at its ends each to one of the brackets to automatically shift in response to relative swinging movement of the track laying units to permit free swinging movement thereof, suspend the front end of the pusher frame parallel to the said horizontal axis and dispose the weight thereof substantially equally on the track laying units, and a hydraulic jack mounted on the pusher frame in engagement with the cable and operable to decrease and increase the effective length thereof for swinging the pusher frame.

7. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and Journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent vertical swinging movement, a pusher frame carrying at its forward end a material handling implement, means mounting the rear end of the pusher frame on the track laying units for vertical swinging movement about a, horizontal axis, sheave means disposed adjacent the forward end of each of the track laying units and mounted on the pusher frame, a pair of brackets mounted one on each of the track laying units, a roller iournaled on the forward end of one of the brackets, a cable connected at one. of its ends to the other of the brackets and passing down wardly therefrom and about the sheave means mounted on the pusher frame and thence upwardly'and then over the said roller, and power operated means mounted on the one of the brackets and operable to decrease and increase the effective length of the cable for swinging the pusher frame.

8. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent swinging movement, an earth moving device mounted on the tractor for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a support mounted on each of said track laying units so that each will have a movement independent of the other in the plane in which said track laying units move as they swing about their pivotal mounting, sheave means carried by said earth moving device, and flexible means continuous from one of said supports to the other of said supports and having a portion thereof passingabout said sheave means.

9. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent vertical swinging movement, an earth moving device comprising a pusher frame carrying a scraper at its forward end, means mounting the rear end of the pusher frame on the tractor for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, brackets carried by the track laying units, sheave means swivelly mounted on the earth moving device in advance of the tractor, flexible means passing about said sheave means and supported on the brackets, to automatically shift about said sheave means in response to swinging movement of said track laying units to thus dispose the weight of the forward end of the pusher frame substantially equally on the track laying units in any position of each of them about their pivotal mounting, and means 'for varying the effective length of the cable for vertically adjusting the free end of the pusher frame.

10. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and joumaled behind their front ends to the body for independent swinging movement, an earth moving device mounted on the tractor for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a support mounted on each of said track laying units so that each will have a movement independent of the other in the plane in which said track laying units move as they swing about their pivotal mounting, sheave means spaced transversely of the line of travel and mounted on said earth moving device, flexible means passing about said sheave means and means mounting said flexible means on said supports, said flexible means being arranged to automatically shift in response to relative swinging movement of said track laying units to suspend the free end of said earth moving device parallel to the said horizontal axis and dispose the weight thereof substantially equally on the track laying units in any pos.tion of each track laying unit about its pivotal mounting, and means to ma.- nipulate the flexible means to vertically adjust the free end of said earth moving device.

11. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent swinging movement, an earth moving device comprising a pusher frame carrying a scraper at its forward end, means mounting the pusher frame on the tractor for swinging movement about a hori-- zontal axis, a bracket carried by each of said track laying units so that each will have a movement independent of the other in the plane in which said track laying units move as they swing about their pivotal mountings, and suspension means for said earth moving device comprising cable means connected with said earth moving device and with said brackets so as to automatically shift in response to the independent swinging movement of said track laying units to suspend the free end of said earth moving device parallel to said horizontal axis and dispose the weight thereof substantially equally on said track laying units in any position of each track laying unit about its pivotal mounting, and operable means applied to said cable means for manipulatingthe same to swing said earth moving device about said horizontal axis.

12. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides therevof and journaled behind their front end to the body for independent vertical swinging movement, an earth moving device disposed with the tractor, means mounting the rear end of said earth moving device on the tractor for vertical swinging movement about ahorizontal axis, brackets carried by the 'track laying units,

sheave means disposed adjacent the forward end of each of said track laying units and mounted on said earth moving device, a single flexible means passing about said sheave means and supported on the brackets to dispose the weight of the front end of the earth moving device substan'tially equally on the track laying units.

13. A material moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent swinging -movement, an earth moving device mounted on the tractor for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, a support mounted on each of said track laying units so that each will have a movement independent of the other in the plane in which said track laying units move as they swing about their pivotal mounting, sheave means spaced transversely of the line of travel and mounted on said earth moving device, and flexible means conanected with said earth moving device and with said supports so as to shift transversely of the line of travel in response to the independent swinging movement of said track laying units and thus disposethe weight of the free end of said earth moving device substantially equally on said track laying units in any position of each of 'said track laying units about its pivotal mounting.

14. A material moving machine comprising a ,5 tractor including a body and track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides thereof and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent vertical swinging movement, a pusher frame carrying a scraper at its forward end, means mounting the rear end of the pusher frame on the track laying units for verticalsw'lnging movement about a horizontal axis, a cantilever bracket mounted on each of the track laying units, means pivotally mounting the rear ends of the brackets on the track laying units, supporting links pivotally'mounted on the track laying units adjacent the forward ends thereof, means pivotally supporting the front ends of said brackets on the upper end-of said links, sheave means disposed adjacent the form ward end of the track laying units and mounted on thepusher frame, flexible means passing about said sheave means and supported on the brackets and means to manipulate the flexible means to swing the pusher frame to raise and lower the scraper.

15. In an earth moving machine, the combination including; a tractor having a body and track laying units disposed one at each side thereof and journaled behind their front ends z'o thereon 'for relative swinging movement; an earth scraping and moving device disposed with the tractor and including a pusher frame provided at its forward end with means for scraping up material; means mounting the device adjacent its rear end on the tractor for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis;

of said earthscraping device relative to the 40' ground, said flexible means being adapted to automatically shift about said sheave means in response to relative swinging movement of said track laying units and thereby dispose the weight 'of the forward end of said earth scraping device substantially equally on said track laying units in any position of each of them about their pivotal mounting.

' CHARLES LE BLIEU- 

